ART CONSPIRACY ORIGIN COLUMNIST | Erik Glissmann Photography by Ange Fitzgerald W
hen one thinks of Dallas and the arts, they think of the Nasher Sculpture Center or The Dallas Museum of Art, not grassroots type philanthropic art organizations. Well,
that’s changing, friends. Art Conspiracy, a street level organization, has been bringing the creative community of the North Texas area together for biannual events since 2005. The inspiration for the first Art Conspiracy was Hurricane Katrina’s devastating effect on the people displaced. A group of artists and musicians called to do more developed an event to create awareness and raise money for these displaced hurricane victims.
That first year the organizers wondered if they could recruit enough artists and were curious if anyone would even show up. People did show up and soon more than 900 people flooded the historic Texas Theatre, so many that the fire marshal was called! Events now attract upwards of 2500 people, complete with hundreds of volunteers, artists and auctioneers.
inventory. Artists are at the core of the mission and valued above all else.
Art Conspiracy strives to bring awareness of the local art scene in a big, tangible way. Their largest primary event is held every fall and has begun transforming unused warehouses into a one of a kind venue. These properties serve as both studio space for the 150+ artists to create their art among each other as well as becoming the venue in which the art is displayed and live auctioned the following day. Between auctions, local musical talent entertains the masses.
The smaller event, SEED, is traditionally held in the early summer consisting of a carefully curated group of artists. This small group or artists are tasked with creating works based on a supplied theme and medium. These pieces are auctioned off in a live setting with local music in an effort to raise awareness of the organizations’ upcoming beneficiary and raise operating funds for the main event, Art Conspiracy. What this means is that Art Conspiracy is completely self-sufficient and high performing without competing for the same grants and dollars to whom Art Conspiracy gives money.
To date, Art Conspiracy has contributed more than $110,000 to small arts organizations including: La Reunion TX, St. Anthony’s Community School, Preservation Link, Today Marks the Beginning and more! Street level artists are transformed into empowered philanthropists.
It’s these same artists that help decide where the money goes and are critical to designing the event year after year.
ART CON 7
What started as a one-off event has grown into a full-fledged organization now in its 7th year. The designation of funds has shifted however, and the money raised is now invested directly into the art and music nonprofit community. Art Conspiracy provides the opportunity for works of art produced on site from all levels of artists ranging from the passionate novice to established artists. Artists are constantly asked for work from all sorts of charities, often with little regard or fanfare. Art Conspiracy is different in that we’re asking for time on-site to create the work, not an expensive, unsold piece of
Date: November 12, 2011 Time: 7pm Location: Warehouse TBD Beneficiary for 2011: Musical Angels For more information, visit
www.ArtConspiracy.org.
September/October 2011
OriginMagazine.com 15
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